Annapurna Circuit vs Kanchenjunga Base Camp
Pick Annapurna Circuit for
photography, road trips, fewer days
Pick Kanchenjunga Base Camp for
peace and quiet, fewer people
| Annapurna Circuit | Kanchenjunga Base Camp | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Nepal, Lamjung–Manang–Mustang, Gandaki | Nepal, Taplejung, Koshi |
| Highest point | 5,416 m | 5,140 m |
| Difficulty | Difficult | Difficult |
| Trek distance | about 160 km | about 180 km |
| Days on the ground | 12–14 | 14–16 |
| Best months | Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov | Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov |
| Snow likely | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar |
| Crowds in season | Busy | Quiet |
| Daily spend | about ₹3,500 | about ₹4,000 |
| Gateway | Pokhara / Kathmandu | Kathmandu (Bhadrapur / Suketar) |
| With kids | Not advised | Not advised |
| With seniors | Not advised | Not advised |
| Permits | ACAP + TIMS. Check current guide rules for your nationality. | Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit + KCA permit. Registered agency required. |
Annapurna Circuit: when to go
- ❄︎Jan
- ❄︎Feb
- ❄︎Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- ❄︎Dec
BestPossibleNot recommended❄︎Snow likely
Kanchenjunga Base Camp: when to go
- ❄︎Jan
- ❄︎Feb
- ❄︎Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- ❄︎Dec
BestPossibleNot recommended❄︎Snow likely